The Fentanyl Crisis: A Complex Issue in US-China Relations
What is Fentanyl and Where Does it Come From?
The United States is facing an epidemic of deaths caused by fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin and much easier and cheaper to produce. US officials have said it is now the leading cause of death among people aged 18 to 45. The US Drug Enforcement Agency has accused China of being "the main source for all fentanyl-related substances trafficked into the United States".
US-China Relations and the Fentanyl Trade
Washington has long accused Beijing of turning a blind eye to the deadly fentanyl trade, which US authorities estimate caused tens of thousands of deaths a year. China denies responsibility. In response to Beijing’s alleged role in the crisis, US President Donald Trump has slapped new tariffs on Chinese goods.
US Efforts to Crack Down
Former president Joe Biden’s administration made the fight against fentanyl a priority. In October 2023, it slapped sanctions on over two dozen China-based entities and individuals alleged to be the "source of supply" for many US-based narcotics traffickers, dark web vendors, virtual currency money launderers and Mexican cartels.
China’s Response
Beijing has promised to crack down on the fentanyl trade, pointing to its tough drug laws and warning that new tariffs would "inevitably affect and damage future bilateral cooperation on drug control". However, analysts say that manufacturers are able to develop new variants of the synthetic precursors faster than they can be identified and added to scheduled lists of substances controlled by Chinese authorities.
US-China Talks and Agreements
China-US talks on drug control stalled in the face of some of their worst relations in years. However, following a summit between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco in November 2023, Washington and Beijing agreed to restart talks. Last summer, a counternarcotics working group convened in Washington and China announced it would step up its regulation of three key fentanyl precursors.
Will the Tariffs Work?
Whether tariffs will spur greater action from Beijing is unclear. Analysts say that Beijing’s cooperation is tied to China-US relations. "With countries with whom China has good relations or with whom it wants to build good relations… it extends law enforcement and counter-narcotics cooperation," said Vanda Felbab-Brown, an expert on organised crime at the Brookings Institution.
Conclusion
The fentanyl crisis is a complex issue in US-China relations, requiring close coordination and cooperation between the two countries to address. While the US has taken steps to crack down on the trade, including slapping new tariffs on Chinese goods, analysts say that manufacturers are able to develop new variants of the synthetic precursors faster than they can be identified and added to scheduled lists of substances controlled by Chinese authorities.
FAQs
Q: What is fentanyl?
A: Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin and much easier and cheaper to produce.
Q: Where does fentanyl come from?
A: Fentanyl is primarily produced in China and smuggled into the US, often via Mexico.
Q: What has the US done to crack down on the fentanyl trade?
A: The US has slapped sanctions on over two dozen China-based entities and individuals alleged to be the "source of supply" for many US-based narcotics traffickers, dark web vendors, virtual currency money launderers and Mexican cartels.
Q: What has China done to address the fentanyl trade?
A: China has promised to crack down on the fentanyl trade, pointing to its tough drug laws and warning that new tariffs would "inevitably affect and damage future bilateral cooperation on drug control".